Posted: 8/4/2026 11:59:41 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Arfless][Edited]
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Hi CO hometown. Fiancee and I are headed out for 10 days in September. Plan is to hit Sand Dunes NP (1 day), Black Canyon (2 days), Mesa Verde (2 days), Arches and Canyonlands (3 days). Looking for alternatives should something get closed for fire. Mostly staying in airbnbs near those locations. Also would consider 'don't miss this' stuff if we're close. We're fit hikers, but the future Mrs won't do a 20 miler unless there's a Homewood suites at the 10 mile mark  Let's call 15 miles the top of our range. No climbing, but scrambling will be ok in spots. Not too sensitive to high elevation, but anything over 12k' we'll notice. We've done RMNP, Concert at Red Rocks, Gunnison to Silverton RR, Ouray (but not Telluride), and CO Springs. On the Utah side, we'll be in Moab. She's never seen Dinosaur NM, so that might be on the table as an example. Your recommendations would be greatly appreciated. |
10,000 years ago there was a 2 mile thick glacier parked right here and not 1 SUV to melt it.
| When you're around Moab, check out the Fisher Towers and Castle Valley. You can hike around the area without climbing any towers and view them from the car. Both areas are relatively close to each other. They're off the river road on the north side of Moab and to the east. |
"Positive rights" are neither.
Busy leaving people the F alone.
Busy leaving people the F alone.
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If you're going near Dinosaur, Fantasy Canyon is a neat little photogenic area. Also my favorite place in Dinosaur is Echo Park, assuming you have a vehicle that can make it. Otherwise if you're going to be near Mesa Verde, I recommend the Bisti badlands, that Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah wilderness and Chaco canyon, all in NW NM. Also in SE Utah there's Natural Bridges national monument, Hovenweep and the Citadel. All that said, I've never gone in the summer months, so I dunno how bad the heat gets in and of those places! |
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Attached File Picked up some Elk on the way from Sand Dunes to Cortez. Ribeye with red wine reduction and green and yellow stuff. We have elk in MI, but you might wait a lifetime for a tag. Farm raised here, but outstanding! It's the only red meat I'd eat if I lived here. |
10,000 years ago there was a 2 mile thick glacier parked right here and not 1 SUV to melt it.